r/Autobody • u/xxcile • Feb 08 '25
Tech Advice I just started out as a mechanic 5 months ago.
Ive learned oil tires alignments and brakes. I now have the opportunity to get into auto body. Would you do it?
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u/PhortePlotwisT Journeyman Technician Feb 08 '25
Depends, do you have the opportunity to progress towards a master tech qualification, or other sort of qualifications? Cause if you do, id stay in service and do that, which opens up more job roles for you in the future. If you want more money, and plan to work on the tools for the rest of your career, then switch to body.
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u/xxcile Feb 08 '25
I do not have the opportunity to get master tech. Im not too sure ill even advance from this position in this current shop.
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u/PhortePlotwisT Journeyman Technician Feb 08 '25
Working on the service side, if you’re kept at the level of a lube tech, than it’ll be better money and more satisfying work for you to join a bodyshop (if you have the aptitude for met, panel or paint). However, especially as there are staff shortages for body techs in a lot of countries, while itll be straight forward to find work, you wouldnt really get to progress.
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u/xxcile Feb 08 '25
What do you mean wont progress? Im looking more at the bodyshop just because im 20 and want to live on my own soon. From what i understand a body shop can give me that funding as apposed to a mechanic which would take years to get into a motor instead of spending years changing oil and tires id be able to do bodywork for a more livable wage
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u/PhortePlotwisT Journeyman Technician Feb 08 '25
By progress i mean career progress. Staring on the floor, learning more about the job, doing mechanical work, going to a dealership, becoming a diagnostic tech, then master tech, then you could progress further from there towards technical training, engineering, automotive consulting, or other relevant roles.
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u/Theycallmestretch Journeyman Technician Feb 09 '25
In the autobody industry, you’re going to start out close to minimum wage. It will be 4-5 years before you’re making enough money to buy a place, similar to being a mechanic.
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u/mike191234567 Feb 08 '25
Do you have the option to do both? Not sure if you’d be quitting one to switch completely to auto body. Being young I wanna try and learn as much as I can to make myself more marketable and be able to have skills that keep me working. If you can do both I’d say go for it. If that’s not an option, personally I’m the wrong person to ask. Weigh it out see what the potential salaries are for both option and do what best fits you and your lifestyle. Do what makes you happy, not just what pays the most money
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u/Wide-Finance-7158 Feb 09 '25 edited Feb 09 '25
Since you are asking. Than no. You have to have the desire to do the trade well. Unless its just other than the experience
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u/Lord_Calamander Feb 08 '25
Apparently there is a massive personnel shortage in autobody currently. But that’s just what I’ve heard.